Fruit-grader



No. 62|,28l. Patented Mari l4, I899. n. POWELL.

FRUIT GRADER.

(Application filed June 24, 1598.

(No Model.)

NITE

Prion.

ROBERT POWELL, OF MYRTLE CREEK, OREGON.

FRUlT-GRADER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 621,281, dated March14, 1899.

Application filed June 24, 1898. Serial No. 684,440. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT POWELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Myrtle Creek, in the county of Douglas and State of Oregon,have invented a new and useful Fruit-Grading Machine, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in f ruit-grading 1n aohines inwhich are employed iron-wire loops operating through an openslattedbottom of an incline chute and having a curved vertical movement.

The object of my machine is to provide a movement, in conjunction withthe wire loops and the slatted-bottom chute, that will grade fruitwithout mashing or bruising.

The following isa brief description of the figures of the drawings.

Figures 1, 2, and 3 designate the three different views of the drawings.Fig. l is avertical section of the grader as it appears out in two andshowing the graduated slatted bottom O O of box S, the wire loops L, theslats O O, and spaces or slats thereof. Fig. 2 is a section of drawing,outside side view, showing oscillating frame T and the pivoted obliquebars or oscillating arms R R, connected to side board S of chute or box.Fig. 3 is a top view of hopper or fruit-box which is connected to sideboards S at I I by means of bolts.

The letters refer to the different parts of the drawings in detail, allsubstantially as shown.

I attain this object of my invention by the mechanism illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a vertical section of theentire separating-machine, inside view, as it appears out in two.

The letters F F F and U U U U constitute the half-framework of themachine.

S is the side board of the chute and is held to frame by means of screwsat letters K.

B B is the bottom of chute at ends and is held in place by means ofbottom rail D, as in section, Fig. 2, outside view.

C O are the slots, which form the open-slatted bottom of chute and areplaced at the proper distance apart to make the several grades, as isdesignated by darts, larger grade passing over the end. These slats areheld in position by the bottom rail D, which is bolted to side boards S,which forms a clamp.

A and letters T T T T constitute the swingframe, to which the wire loopsL and headblock E are secured. X is a staple driven across side of loopL into frame A, which holds the loops in position. Swing-frame has a V61tical circular movement, which is accom* plished by means of the crank Pand the oscillating arms R R. Crank P is connected with head-block Ewith pitman P which holds swing-frame in position vertically and securesthe vertical movement. The oscillating arms are held in positionobliquely by means of wrist-pins Z, which gives the circular movement,thereby causing the loops L to move back near slats 0 when down and outof the drop of the fruit and back to center of space when up. Thevertical movement lifts the fruit out of the spaces, causing it to rollinto the next space below, and so on down the chute.

Fig. 3 is the top view of slatted-bottom boX which is bolted to sideboards S at upper end at I I to receive the fruit to be graded.

When the crank J is moved around, the swing-frame A rises and lowers,lifting the fruit out of the spaces when up, causing the fruit to rolldown, and allowing it to drop through when down, thereby grading thefruit into uniform sizes.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a fruit-grading machine, the combination'with the inclined box orchute, having the graduated slots or openings in the bottom thereof, ofthe oscillating frame connected to the box or chute by the pivotedoblique bars and carrying the wire loops which work in and through theslots or openingsin the bottom of the box or chute, and means foroscillating the frame, all substantially as described and shown.

ROBERT POWELL. Witnesses:

H. DYER, N. SELIG.

